Mallika Shah

🪔 About

Mallika Sarabhai, born on May 9, 1954, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, activist, and actress. She is the daughter of the renowned space scientist Vikram Sarabhai and the legendary classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai. Mallika Sarabhai received her early training in Bharatanatyam at home under her mother's guidance, and her guru for Bharatanatyam was Kittappa Pillai. She also trained in Kuchipudi under C.R. Acharyalu. Academically, she earned a B.A. in economics from St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad, in 1972, followed by an M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, in 1974. She completed her Doctorate in Organizational Behaviour from Gujarat University in 1976. Sarabhai began performing in her teens and ventured into parallel cinema at the age of 15. She is widely recognized for her innovative approach to using the arts, particularly dance, as a powerful medium for social change and transformation, addressing issues related to religion, gender, and the environment. In 1989, she created and performed her acclaimed solo theatrical work, 'Shakti: The Power of Women'. Mallika Sarabhai currently manages the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, an institution founded by her parents in 1949, which offers various courses in classical dance and other art forms. She has also explored contemporary dance forms since the 1990s, developing unique choreographic styles that are deeply rooted in Bharatanatyam. She was married to Bipin Shah from 1982 to 1989, and together they co-founded Mapin Publishing in 1984. She has two children, Revanta and Anahita. Awards & Honours: Best Film Actress Award (1975), Golden Star Award for Best Dance Soloist (1977), Chevalier des Palmes Academiques (1999), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Creative Dance (2000), Knight of the Order of Arts & Letters (2002), Woman of the Year (2003), Kala Shiromani Purskar (2004), Theatre Pasta Theatre Award (2007), Padma Bhushan (2010).